Copy of an address prepared and intended to have been presented to Lieutnt Governor Paterson on his arrival, from some of the principal Settlers at Hawksbury [sic]', 1 May 1808 (Series 40.114) - No. 0001

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To His honor William Paterson Esqr His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor, &c, &c, &c.

Sir

Permit us to express ourselves with the freedom of british subjects who are deeply interested, in the future prosperity of this colony, we have imbarked our all, and look forward to improvement that our children may reap the benefit of our industry.  With pleasure we saw the colony reviving from the most melancholy calamity, the Streams of Justice purified, crimes of the deepest dye prevented, discipline established, a System of monopoly and extortion in some measure suppressed, that had been long and severely felt, by us and our families, nearly to the deprivation of every comfort;  as our hopes were beginning to revive, and prospects brighten, we were suddenly alarmed, on the 26th day of January last, at His Excellency Governor Bligh being arrested and confined a close prisoner, in his own house, the Judge Advocate provost marshal, and other public officers appointed by the King and holding his commission arrested or removed, and every legal Magistrate in the colony struck out of the commission of the peace, and others appointed - a body of men heated with wine going from house to house threatening and menacing his Majesty's loyal subjects with imprisonment, to be sent out of the Colony and deprived of all indulgencies from government, and that they would be marked men who refused to sign a treasonable and seditious paper to Sanction what had been done on that day.  We are alarmed at the informations of the most worthless and abandoned prisoners for life being taken on oath to accuse their Masters, and that in the absence of the accused.  The Masters taken from their families on such information, and told they need not apply for protection, for they shall have none.  We disavow and protest against the above measures, as the highest insult to the King in the person of His representative Governor Bligh, the highest outrage and contempt of the british government, and of the laws, highly injurious to the honor of the british nation, in this this colony, and to all regular government:  Subordination and discipline so necessary in this colony, placing, the most implicit confidence in your loyalty to the King, your honor and experience as an